Flowable substances dispenser

ABSTRACT

In a fluid dispenser of the expansible member or bladder type wherein the memory of the material furnishes the dispensing force, a unitary mandrel and valve closure member acts to pretension the expansible member and to act as the valve closure, the axial movement of which permits the fluid contained within the expansible member to be dispensed.

United States Patent Roper et al.

[ 1 June 27, 1972 FLOWABLE SUBSTANCES DISPENSER William ll. Roper, LosAngeles; Robert N. Ross, Fountain Valley; Gabor Visnovlts, Anaheim, allof Calif.

Plant industries, Inc., Anaheim, Calif.

lnventors:

Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.:

Feb. 11, 1971 US. Cl ..222/l83, 222/2 l 2, 223/386.5 ..B67d 5/06 Fieldof Search 141/23, 24, 25, 27; 222/94,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,317,090 5/1967 Meshberg..222/386.5 3,361,303 1/1968 Jacuzzi ..222/212 X Primary Examiner-SamuelF Coleman Assistant Examiner-Larry Martin Attorney-Mahoney, Hombaker &Schick ABSTRACT 1 1 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJum I972INVENTORS. WILLIAM H. RoPER,

ROBERT N. ROSS AND BY GABOR VISNOVITS MAHONEY, HORNBAKER AND SCH/CKATTORNEYS FLOWABLE SUBSTANCES DISPENSER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention pertains to fluid dispensers utilizing expansible members, ofelastic materials, which are pretensioned in a manner that fluids suchas viscous liquids, pastes and the like contained within the expansiblemembers are dispelled therefrom without the necessity of utilizingpropellants of the aerosol type.

Dispensers of the general type referred to above and particularly of thetype disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,361,303 to Jacuzzi, have hadshortcomings associated with the dispenser structures.

One of the serious drawbacks in the prior art dispensers of this typehas been in the fact that separate mandrel or stem and valve closurecomponents have been required leading to serious drawbacks with respectto manufacturing techniques, assembly of the dispensers and performancein use. A mandrel or stem is necessary in dispensers utilizingexpansible members or bladders in order to exert pretensioning forces,specifically radial and longitudinal, thereon.

Some of the prior art structures utilizing such stems have theexpansible members rigidly secured thereto thereby requiring that thestem or mandrel be relatively stationary and immobile thereby requiringa separate closing and opening mechanism wholly independent of themandrel or stem.

With the herein disclosed invention, a dispenser of the expansiblemember type utilizing a mandrel or stem, which is integral with aclosing element, is axially movable with respect to the expansiblemember thereby producing a fluid dispenser obviating the afore-alludedto shortcomings of the prior art structures.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention toprovide a fluid dispenser of the expansible member type.

It is another object of this invention to provide a fluid dispenser ofthe expansible member type utilizing a unitary mandrel or stem and valveclosing structure.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a fluid dispenserof the expansible member type wherein a single unitary structureperforms the functions of mandrel and closing member.

It is still a further more specific object of the invention to provide afluid dispenser of the expansible member type wherein a unitarystructure provides a mandrel and closing element in combination with aunique valve closure structure.

It is still another and further specific object of the invention toprovide a fluid dispenser of the expansible member type wherein themandrel and closure element are of unitary construction and are axiallymovable within the expansible member of bladder.

It is still an even more and further object of the invention to providea dispenser of the expansible member type utilizing a valve closurestructure of unique design and configuration.

These and further objects of the invention will become ap parent fromthe disclosure and drawing contained herein.

Generally, in an exemplary embodiment, the invention pertains to a fluiddispenser comprising the combination of a container body and covertherefor, including a member having a fluid passageway communicating theexterior thereof to a valve member, said valve member communicating toan expansible member adapted to store fluid therein and be retainedwithin said container body, said valve member having an unitary,elongated mandrel and closure member, the mandrel portion extending intoand substantially the entire length of said expansible member and theclosure portion being normally seated in the closed position to blocksaid fluid passageway and said mandrel and closure member being axiallymovable within said expansible member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational viewpartially in cross section of an exemplary dispenser of the inventionshowing the cover in the exploded position for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 1A is a view taken along the line IA-IA of FIG. 1;

DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST EMBODIMENTS CONTEMPLATED:

Referring to the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designatelike elements throughout, an exemplary fluid dispenser 2 is illustratedas having a container body 4 of general configuration and size with abottom portion 6 being of the type that has an interior double concaveconfiguration 8 as shown with a central stem centering or locating cupportion 10 and being secured to the upper container body portion 12 bywell known means in the art, such as for example, ultrasonic welding orthe like. Upper body 12 has inset collar portion 11, provided with theinterior configuration shown, spaced from the remainder of the containerand having integral connecting webs 13 to thereby form discontinuousslots 15 to receive cover member 14 in close fit arrangement as will beapparent. Thus, the materials of construction for dispenser 2particularly the body 4 may be those conventionally used in the art thatwill meet the criteria necessary for containing and dispensing fluids aswill become apparent. Except as noted, plastic is the preferred materialfor all components of dispenser 2.

Dispenser 2 is provided with a cover member 14 of the usual type havinga fluid passageway 16, formed by the walls l7,

communicating the exterior 18 thereof to the inlet 20 which is incommunication with a valve member component generally designated 22.Cover 14 is formed with inset rim 19 having three equally spaceddepending legs 21 (only two being shown) of incline plane and notchconfiguration as shown for purposes as will become apparent. The outsidewall of cover 14 and exterior wall of rim 19 form circumferential groove23 therebetween. The cover 14, of molded plastic, is depressible inconventional manner to the extent of the axial movement permitted byshoulder 24 of container body 4, and to this end is provided with a flatthumb or finger engaging surface 26 by which means depression is easilyaccomplished.

Valve member component 22 comprises (in the order shown in FIG. 2 theorder of assembly) ferrule member 28 of thin wall, deformable aluminum,for example, of general cylindrical design having an orifice portion 30communicating to the inlet 20 of passageway 16. Ferrule 28 may be withinthe thickness of about 0.020 of an inch so that the lower portion may becrimped or bent as shown in FIG. I. A larger cylindrical portion 32provides an interior recess to receive a valve seat 34, in this instancebeing' an annular disc, having a central aperture 36 to accommodate theinlet 20 of passageway 16. Ferrule 28 has depending exterior wall 38,the lower portion of which becomes crimped in later assembly as willbecome apparent. The interior configuration of ferrule 28 is adapted toreceive in nestled, substantially tight relationship, the 7 remainingmembers of the assemblage as can be seen in FIG. 1 and as will bedescribed. Seat 34 may be of rubber.

The mandrel or stem and closure member 46 comprises an integral, unitarystructure having an elongate mandrel portion 48 and an upper valveclosing portion 50, in this instance having an annular head 52 providedwith a sealing surface 54 adapted to effect sealing and blockage of theinlet 20 by engagement with the adjacently positioned surface of valveseat 34. Spaced projections 56 spaced about the head 52 provide means bywhich spring 58 is retained in cooperative relationship within theassemblage. The elongate portion 48 of mandrel-closure member 46 isapproximately three times the normal unextended length of the expansiblemember before assemblage into the dispenser 2 and as will becomeapparent.

tioned therebetween. A depending collar-like portion 64 is of 5appropriate size and configuration to be received within cylindricalportion 38 of ferrule member 28, and is provided with an interior shapesubstantially as seen in FIG. 1 to perform a gripping or holdingfunction with the subsequent components of the assemblage. A lowerdepending portion 66 is provided with an interior slotted or notchedconfiguration to form in effect a plurality of spaced ribs 67 to therebypermit free flow of a fluid contained withinthe expansible membertherethrough, to and about the spring 58 retained within valve body 60by means of the spaced shoulders 68 provided for that purpose. It willbe noted that the spring chamber 71 formed between mandrel closuremember 46 and the interior wall of valve body 60 permits passage offluid contained within the expansible member to be positioned andreadied at and about the head 52 ready for entry into inlet 20 0fpassageway 16 upon depression or actuation of cover 14 which axiallyshifts member 46 to unseat the valve closure.

The next member in the assemblage is the expansible member 70 here shownin the extended, elongate state but which may vary in the unassembled,unstressed condition, between about approximately one-half to one-thirdthe length of the mandrel closure member 46. Expansible member 70 isprovided with a flanged upper portion 72 and a mouth opening 74 toreceive lower, depending interior rib portion 66 of the valve body 60.The mouth opening 74 extends into the interior of expansible member 70which provides the chamber or receptacle into which fluid is to bestored as will become apparent. Expansible member 70 is preferablyfabricated of an elastomeric material such as a natural latex orsilicone rubber of varying thickness, depending upon applicability.Especially useful are those materials having exceedingly high memory orresilience capabilities which permits the membrane, after distortion, toexert substantially high. forces upon the fluid contained therein. Theinside diameter of the extended portion 73 is slightly larger than theoutside diameter of the elongate portion 48 of mandrel-closure member46, before assemblage.

In order to secure the expansible member 70 within the assemblage, asnap ring member 76 is provided and is generally of ring or collar-likeconfiguration having collar portion 78 and depending locking legs 80provided with locking lip surfaces 82 for engagement with the interiorshoulder of inset collar portion 11 of upper container body 12. It willbe noted that the snap ring 76 is provided with a locking groove 84 andthe general exterior configuration is such as to be received within theinterior of valve body member 60 with the flanged portion 72 ofexpansible member 70 held rigidly and securely therebetween. The lowerdepending wall 38 of ferrule 28 may now be crimped at spaced points orabout the entire lower periphery. When locked in the position shown, theflanged portion 72 of expansible member 70 is securely retained insubstantially fluid-tight secured relationship.

After assemblage in the manner just described and as shown in FIG. 1,but with the cover 14 not yet assembled, a filling tool may be insertedinto the valve member 22 to thereby axially move member 46 and put theinterior of flexible membrane 70 into communication with a fluid supply.After filling of the expansible membrane 70 to the interior limits ofthe container 4, the filling tube is removed and the cover 14 positionedonto the collar 11. The cover 14 and collar 11 cooperate in friction fitengaging relationship usual in this art and to which no inventive claimsis laid except as permitted by the prior art. Suffice to say that theincline and notch tabs 21, upon rotational movement of cover 14, engagethe webs 13 to move cover 14 into an upwardly locked position therebypreventing its vertical movement with respect to the valve membercomponent 22. Rotation in the opposite direction to an extreme isprevented by the spacing of webs 13.

In the filling operation, the filling tube depresses axiallymovablemandrel closure member 46 thereby disengaging sealing surface 54 withvalve seat member 34 allowing the introduction of a fluid such as paste,hand cream etc. into the interior of expansible member 70 to the extentthat the expansible member 70 billows outwardly until the interiorsurface of upper body portion 4 and lower body portion 6 are engaged.When a metered amount of fluid has been introduced into the interior offlexible and expansible member 70, the filling tube is withdrawn and thespring 58 returns the mandrel closure member 46 into the closed positionthereby efiectively blocking the valve passageway. The central concaveportion 10 of lower body portion 6 insures proper alignment andplacement of mandrel closure member 46 within the interior of dispenser2.

The materials of construction for dispenser 2 may be any of thosegenerally known in the container art but preferably include, except forthose components as noted, the commercially available plastics and thelike. Expansible member 70 preferably is of a natural rubber or latexmaterial and is pretensioned so that any fluid contained therein andtending to deform the natural shape thereof will be expelled to theextent that the pretensioning and the natural memory of the materialtends to return the expansible member 70 to its unfilled state.

Thus, there has been disclosed a fluid dispenser of the expansiblemember type wherein a unitary mandrel and closure member acts inconjunction with unique components to allow dispensing of fluids withoutthe use of propellants or the like. Various modifications andsubstitutions will make themselves readily apparent to those of ordinaryskill in the art and all such departures and modifications are intendedto be covered by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A fluid dispenser comprising the combination of: a container body andcover and cover therefor including a member having a fluid passagewaycommunicating the exterior thereof to a valve member, said valve membercommunicating to an expansible member adapted to store fluid therein andbe retained within said container body, said valve member having anaxially shiftable, unitary elongated mandrel and closure member, havingmandrel and closure portions, said mandrel portion extending into'andsubstantially the entire length of said expansible member and saidclosure portion normally being seated in the closed position to blocksaid fluid passageway.

2. A fluid dispenser in accordance with claim 1 wherein a valve bodymember, including a valve seat, encircles said mandrel and closuremember and said closure portion acts against said valve seat to blocksaid fluid passageway.

3. A fluid dispenser in accordance with claim 2 wherein said valve bodymember has slotted wall portions by which communication into theinterior of said expansible member is obtained.

4. A fluid dispenser in accordance with claim 1 wherein said mandrel andclosure member is spring-biased to position said closure portion intothe closed position.

5. A fluid dispenser in accordance with claim 4 including a valve bodymember in encircling relationship with said mandrel and closure memberand wherein the interior of said valve body member is adapted to retaina spring member therein.

6. A fluid dispenser in accordance with claim 5 additionally including avalve seat in said valve body member and wherein said closure portionhas an annular head, the upper surface thereof forming a continuoussealing surface with said valve seat and a lower surface adapted to forman abutting surface for a spring member.

7. A fluid dispenser in accordance with claim 6 wherein said valve seatand said valve body member are received in nestled relationship by aferrule member of deformable character and said valve seat is a dischaving an annular passageway of the same size as said fluid passagewayand communicating thereto.

8. A fluid dispenser in accordance with claim 7 wherein said disc isretained in position with said valve body member by said overlyingferrule member and said ferrule member has an aligned apertureaccommodating said fluid passageway and said annular passageway.

9. A fluid dispenser in accordance with claim 8 which additionallyincludes a coil spring retained within said valve body member actingagainst the interior thereof and said lower surface of said closureportion.

10. A fluid dispenser in accordance with claim 9 wherein said expansiblemember is retained in fluid-tight secured relationship and a snap ringmember adapted to engage the interior wall of said container, positionsthe assembly within the neck of said container body.

11. A viscous fluid dispenser comprising the combination of: a containerbody, the walls thereof forming a inclosure open to external atmosphere;a cover supported on said container body and having a fluid passagewaycommunicating the exterior thereof to a valve member disposed insupported relationship within .said inclosure, said valve membercommunicating to and supporting a flexible, expansible bladder, adaptedto store viscous fluid therein, within said closure; said bladder, inthe unfilled state being pretensioned in the radial and lineardirections; and an axially shiftable unitary elongated mandrel andclosure member, having mandrel and closure portions and being supportedwithin said valve member and said bladder, said mandrel portionextending substantially the entire length of said bladder and saidclosure portion normally being seated in the closed position to blocksaid fluid passageway.

t t F i

1. A fluid dispenser comprising the combination of: a container body andcover and cover therefor including a member having a fluid passagewaycommunicating the exterior thereof to a valve member, said valve membercommunicating to an expansible member adapted to store fluid therein andbe retained within said container body, said valve member having anaxially shiftable, unitary elongated mandrel and closure member, havingmandrel and closure portions, said mandrel portion extending into andsubstantially the entire length of said expansible member and saidclosure portion normally being seated in the closed position to blocksaid fluid passageway.
 2. A fluid dispenser in accordance with claim 1wherein a valve body member, including a valve seat, encircles saidmandrel and closure member and said closure portion acts against saidvalve seat to block said fluid passageway.
 3. A fluid dispenser inaccordance with claim 2 wherein said valve body member has slotted wallportions by which communication into the interior of said expansiblemember is obtained.
 4. A fluid dispenser in accordance with claim 1wherein said mandrel and closure mEmber is spring-biased to positionsaid closure portion into the closed position.
 5. A fluid dispenser inaccordance with claim 4 including a valve body member in encirclingrelationship with said mandrel and closure member and wherein theinterior of said valve body member is adapted to retain a spring membertherein.
 6. A fluid dispenser in accordance with claim 5 additionallyincluding a valve seat in said valve body member and wherein saidclosure portion has an annular head, the upper surface thereof forming acontinuous sealing surface with said valve seat and a lower surfaceadapted to form an abutting surface for a spring member.
 7. A fluiddispenser in accordance with claim 6 wherein said valve seat and saidvalve body member are received in nestled relationship by a ferrulemember of deformable character and said valve seat is a disc having anannular passageway of the same size as said fluid passageway andcommunicating thereto.
 8. A fluid dispenser in accordance with claim 7wherein said disc is retained in position with said valve body member bysaid overlying ferrule member and said ferrule member has an alignedaperture accommodating said fluid passageway and said annularpassageway.
 9. A fluid dispenser in accordance with claim 8 whichadditionally includes a coil spring retained within said valve bodymember acting against the interior thereof and said lower surface ofsaid closure portion.
 10. A fluid dispenser in accordance with claim 9wherein said expansible member is retained in fluid-tight securedrelationship and a snap ring member adapted to engage the interior wallof said container, positions the assembly within the neck of saidcontainer body.
 11. A viscous fluid dispenser comprising the combinationof: a container body, the walls thereof forming a inclosure open toexternal atmosphere; a cover supported on said container body and havinga fluid passageway communicating the exterior thereof to a valve memberdisposed in supported relationship within said inclosure, said valvemember communicating to and supporting a flexible, expansible bladder,adapted to store viscous fluid therein, within said closure; saidbladder, in the unfilled state being pretensioned in the radial andlinear directions; and an axially shiftable unitary elongated mandreland closure member, having mandrel and closure portions and beingsupported within said valve member and said bladder, said mandrelportion extending substantially the entire length of said bladder andsaid closure portion normally being seated in the closed position toblock said fluid passageway.